Concrete mixer tower



Aug. 24, 1943. H. A. WAGNER CONCRETE MIXER TOWER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed OCT.. 3, 1942 HAROLD A. WAGNER lNvENToVB BY ,d

' ATTORNEY Aug. 24, 1943. H. A. WAGNER CONCRETE MIXER TOWER Filed Oct. 5, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 HAROLD A. WAGNER ATTORNEY vention will be described as it may be applied to a mobile concrete mixer apparatus indicated generally at lil. it will readily be appreciated, however, upon a perusal of this specification, that the invention is not necessarily so limited, in that the tower structure may be applied equally well to other` Ypparatus and for purposes other than for handling merely concrete. Thus, for example, the concrete mixer iii, insofar as the present disclosure is concerned, may be taken to represent any mobile vehicle upon which it is desired to mount a portable elevator structure. Furthermore, it is not essential that the tower structure disclosed be mounted upon a mobile vehicle, since, obviously it can be stationarily mounted in an upright position upon any suitable foundation. As illustrated, the longitudinal tower structure, indicated generally at El, is suitably pivoted intermediate its ends at some point, such as l2, upon an upper portion of the mixer framework i3. When in the vertical position the lower end of the tower may be secured to the vehicle framework by suitable such as hooks lli, pivotally attached to the mixer frame and extending rearwardly therefrom for cooperatively hooking over studs secured to the tower uprights. Braces l5 may be connected between the tower above the pivot E2 and other parts of the mixer structure for steadying the tower in the elevated position.

' A bucket i6 is mounted for longitudinal movement within the shaft of tower H by means of a cable Il extending from the power driven winch drum t8 provided on the mixer and trained over pulley i9 in the base of the tower and over pulleys 2l mounted in the tcp of the tower from which latter pulleys the cable extends downwardly centrally of the tower shaft to the carriage supporting the bucket iii. In order to illustrate more clearly the tower details, the cable extending lengthwise of the tower has been omitted from the drawings. Adjustably `mounted upon the front side of the tower il is a hopper 23 which is adapted to receive the contents from the bucket i6 and from which the contents may be distributed to suitable points as by chutes (not shown).

The tower structure will now be described in greater detail. Referring to the view of Fig. 1, it will be observed that the tower is formed by a lower unit 2d, which is hinged to the mixer framework, and an upper unit 25 which is secured as by clamping bolts E@ to the top of the lower unit. The upper unit may readily be removed and one or more intermediate extension units assembled between the lower and upper units in order to adjust the height of the tower to the job requirements. An extension unit 2! is included in the exploded view of Fig. 2. The structure of the lower and intermediate units is essentially similar with regardto the uprights and bracing morder that when Aasseinlzsled the combined units will effectively form a unitary structure of the combined length.

Referring new to Fig. 2, it will be observed that the tower structure is formed of a plurality of parallel uprights which are braced together around the rear and the two opposite sides of the tower only so that the front side of the tower is open substantially throughout the full length thereof, or, at least, throughout the full length of travel of the bucket i6 mounted therein. The iront upright-s 39 and 3l and the rearY uprights t2 and 33 are spaced at right angles with respect to each otherso as to denne a substantially Cil rectangular elevator shaft therebetween for the bucket I6. It is preferred that the rear uprights 32 and 33 be formed by relatively large diameter tubular members and which are secured together by suitable means such as horizontal cross braces 34 and diagonal members 35. The front uprights 39 and 3| are preferably formed by I-beams arranged so that their nat sides extend in a common plane and whereby their outer sides denne the front of the tower. The I-beams 30 and 3| are rigidly secured to corresponding ones of the rear uprights by suitable means such as horizontal braces 36 and 31, respectively, and diagonally extending members 38 and 39. The various cross braces and diagonal members are preferably tubular in shape, o-r pipes, welded at their opposite ends to the uprights whereby a structure of relatively light weight, yet possessing a high degree of rigidity, is provided. Corner gusset plates l0 (see Fig. 3) are preferably welded between adjacent right angularly extending horizontal braces in order to add to the strength of the structure. It is pointed out that no cross bracing is provided between the front uprights 3D and 3l, the space therebetween being open the full length of the tower structure for reasons that will be pointed out more fully hereinafter.

While the tower may be made as a unitary structure of a predetermined length, it is preferred, for reasons of greater flexibility and adaptability to the requirements of varying needs, to construct the tower of a plurality of separable sections and which may be united together in an end to end relation to form a tower of any reasonable desired length. Such sections can readily be combined when the tower is in a lowered or horizontal position. To facilitate the alignment and assembly oi the various sections, telescopic intertting means are provided on the adjacent ends of the tower units. The upper ends of the rear uprights 32 and 33 are provided with cylindrical plugs lll having central openings therethrough for cooperatively receiving dowel pins 42 centrally secured to and depending from the lower ends of the rear uprights of the above section. Depending from the lower ends of the front uprights of the above sections are pairs of ngers 43 welded to opposite sides of the web portion and which are adapted to straddle the web of the front uprights of the lower section. The lower end of the top unit 25 is equipped in the same manner as the corresponding ends of the intermediate units for facilitating the assembly of this unit upon the upper end of the lower unit. Clamping plates VIM are provided upon the parallel cross braces at the adjacent ends of the tower sections and top unit for receiving bolts, such as 2S (Fig. 1) therethrough.

For guiding the movement of the bucket l5 within the elevator shaft of the tower, a pair of rails d5, 46 are secured to the inner sides vof the tower in -a parallel relation with'respect to the various uprights. The guide rails may be formed of any suitable metal members such as T irons, the edge of the webs of which may be welded to the transverse brace members of the tower. The ilat sides of the T-shaped members thus face each other and denne bearing surfaces for the bucket carriage within which the bucket I6 is supported. The bucket carriage comprises Va rectangular framework including a pair of Vdouble hanged slides 4l, shown more clearly in Fig. 3, which t over the oppositely extending anges of the guide rails, the upper ends of the slides '41 being connected together by transversely exfootingV a suitable weight distribution. The jacks may be'lowered into engagement with the ground,

suracebefore the operation ofthe mixer is started and secured in place, asv by pins 13N placed through cooperative openings provided inA the ends of the rear uprights and the posts H. As

the-weight of the mixer is increased upon thev frame member i extending across thegmixer.

framework adjacent the upper end` thereof. Plates 'i8 retain the bearing blocks 15., 1 5', invv place upon the mixer frame member Ti. When it is desired to detach the tower structure from the mixer it is merely necessary to guy the tower with a suitable larrangement of cables (not shown), after which the braces I 5 may b e removed, the hooks id detached, and the retaining plates TS unbolted from the bearing blocks l5, l. For guying purposes, the cable Il, which is d2- tached from the winch drum I2, may be used. The mixer may then simply'be driven away from the tower structure for use on jobs in which it may not be necessary to elevate Ythe mixed concrete. By backing the mixer up to the tower again, it may be attached thereto and lowered to the horizontal position and carried oi.

Having described the principle of the invention in what is considered to be a preferred, structural embodiment thereof,`it is desired that it be understood that the various specific details are merely illustrative and that the'inven'tion may be carried out by other means.

The invention is hereby' claimed as follows:

l. in a portable concrete mixing apparatus, the combination comprising a lvehicle having a framework, an elevator tower structure pivotally mounted intermediate its ends upon an upper po 'tien of said framework for movement between a vertical operative position and a horizontal inoperative position, a hoist bucket slidably mounted within said tower for longitudinal movem ment therewithin, said tower including a pair of tubular rear uprights, means for securing the lower ends of said uprights in engagement with a lower portion of said framework in the operative position of said tower, means telescopically arranged within the lower ends of each of said rear uprights and movable into engagement with the gro-und to provide a firm foundation for Said tower in the operative position thereof, a winch um on said vehicle, a pulley on the lower end tower, a cable extending from said drum over said pulley and connected at its opposite end to said bucket for effecting relative longitudinal movement thereof within said tower in the operative position of said tower, and mea-ns for securing said bucket relative to said tower whereby movement of said tower between said `operative and inoperative positions may be effected b y said cable without requiring rearrangement thereof.

2. In a portable concrete mixing apparatus, the combination comprisinga mobile Vehicle having a framework including an upper horizontal transverse member at one end thereof, an elevator tower structure pivtally mounted intermedi- A assi-,477

ate its ends upon said frame memberfor movement between a vertical operative position and a horizontal inoperative position, said tower comprising a pair of tubular rear uprights and a pair of. front uprightsdenning a substantiallyv rectangular shaft therebetween, a bucket mounted within` said. vshaft for longitudinal movement therewithin, means for securing the lower ends of said uprights in engagement with the lower portion of lsaid framework in the operative position of said towenand members telescopicallv movable within the lower ends of said rear uprightsadapted to depend into engagement with the ground providing a firm support for said tower in the operative position thereof.

3. In a portable concrete mixing apparatus, the combination comprising a vehicle having a framework, an elevator tower mounted on said framework, said elevator tower comprising lower, intermediate, and upper units removably secured together in an end to end relation, said lower unit being pivotally mounted intermediate its ends upon said vehicle framework, said lower and intermediate tower units having tubular rear uprights and I-beam front uprights deiining a substantially rectangular shaft therebetween, said uprights being braced across the rear and across opposite sides, said lower and intermediate units being open alo-ng the front side substantially the full length thereof, cooperating telescopic means provided in adjacent ends of said tubular uprights of said lower and intermediate tower units, and telescopic means provided in the lower nds or" said tubular uprights for engaging the ground and supporting said tower.

4i. .ein elevator tower comprising a pair of tubular uprignts and a paiY oi I-beam iront uprights defining a substa' J ally rectangular shalt therebetween, the at sides of said I--beains extending in substantially common planes, rear cross braces welded to and securing said rear uprights together, side cross braces welded to said rear uprights and to the rear flat sides of the corresponding one of said front uprights, shaft being open along the iront side of said tower substantially throughout the full length thereof, elevating bucket means longitudinally movable within said sha, ho -r means for receiving the contents from s. ld bucket, means slidably mounting said hopr l1 across the front side of said tower, said mounting means including a pair of longitudinal slides engaging with the outer flat sides of said iront uprights, said slides having inturned side portions extending around the opposite edges of said ilat sides of said iront uprights. Y

5. An elevator tow-:r comprising bular rear uprights a pair of beam iront uprights defining a substantially rectangular shaft therebetween, the flut sides oi said I- beams extending in substan'ti-any` common planes, rear cross braces welded to and uring said rear uprights together, side Li welded to said rear uprights and to the fiat sides oi the corresponding one of said iront uprights, there being no braces rigidly directly interconnecting 'said front uprights whereby said shalt is open substantially throughout the full lengthV thereof, elevatingV bucket means longitudinally movable within said shaiuhoppcr means includingra support slidably mounted upon the iront at sides'iof saidfront uprights, said support including portions extending around each oi the oppositeedges or" the iiat sides of' said iront 11D- rii-usf a pair of tu- I- o'. An elevator tower of the type comprising uprights defining a substantially rectangular elevator shaft therebetween, said shaft being open along the front side of said tower for substantially the full length thereof, an elevator bucket slidably mountedv within saidshait for movement longitudinally thereof, and a hopper for receiving contents from said bucket slidably mounted across the openrside of said tower, said tower comprising a pair of tubular rear uprights and a pair of I-beam front uprights, the fiat sides of said I-beams extending in substantially common planes, rear cross braces welded to and securing said rear uprights `togetheiyside cross braces welded to said rear uprights and to the rear hat sides of the corresponding one of `said I-beams, the front :dat sides of said I-beams denning slide surfaces for said hopper.

'7. An elevator tower comprising a plurality of parallel uprights dening a substantially rectangular elevator shaft therebetween, means fastening said uprights together around three sides of said shaft, said shaft being open along the front side of said tower for substantially the full length thereof, an elevator bucket slidably mounted within said shaft for movement longitudinally thereof, a hopper for receiving contents from said bucket slidably mounted across the open side of said tower, two of said uprights on opposite sides of said shaft and deiining the front side of said tower having Tshaped forward sections, the flat side of the T-shape of said sections extending in a common plane, supports for said hopper slidably engaging said fiat sides and having inturned Iianges extending around each of the opposite edges of said flat sides of said T-shaped sections,

S. An elevator tower comprising a plurality of parallel uprights defining a substantially rectanguiar elevator shaft therebetween, said shaft being open along the front side of said tower for substantialiy the full length thereof, an elevator bucket slidably mounted within said shaft for movement longitudinally thereof, a hopper for receiving contents from said bucket slidably mounted across the open front side of said tower, two of said uprights on opposite sides of said shaft and defining the front side of said tower having T-shaped forward sections, the flat side of the T-shape of said sections extending in a common plane, supports for said hopper slidably engaging said nat sides and having flanges extending around each of the opposite edges of said flat sides of said T-shaped sections, said sides being cut away from the web ofsaid sections at the lower end of said uprights to permit removal of said hopper supports from said tower in the lowered position of said hopper.

9. An elevator arrangement comprising a tower structure including pairs of front and rear parallel uprghts, cross braces securing said uprights together along opposite sides and across the rear, said tower being open along the iront side, a bucket carriage slidably arranged for movement longitudinally of said tower between said uprights, a longitudinal bucket mounted within said carriage and having a cross section corresponding substantially to the cross section of free longitudinal space within said tower, said bucket being pivotally mounted upon said carriage adjacent the lower end thereof and forwardly of the center of gravity of said bucket, a hopper adjustably mounted upon the front pair of said uprights, means on said hopper for engaging with said bucket as said carriage is elevated therepast and causing outward tilting of said bucket, the upper end of said bucket upon forward tilting thereof projecting outwardly between said front tower uprlghts and movable to a substantially inverted position over said hopper, and roller means mounted along the rear edge of said hopper for supporting the underside of said bucket during dumping operation.

l0. An elevator tower structure comprising a rectangular arrangement of parallel uprights, interconnecting means bracing said uprights along one pair of opposite sides and across the rear side, said tower being open along the front side, a bucket longitudinally movable within said tower between said uprights, a pair of guides secured to the opposite inner sides of said tower, a supporting carriage for said bucket slidably mounted upon said guides, said bucket being pivotally mounted upon said carriage adjacent the lower end thereof and forwardly of the center of gravity of said bucket, a stop extending upwardly from said bucket and engaging said carriage to noi'- mally retain said bucket in an upright position, a hopper adjustably secured to the front pair of said uprights, means on said hopper for engaging said vbucket and causing forward tilting of said bucket to an over center position within said carriage upon movement of said carriage past said hopper, and a roller mounted upon the edge of said hopper for supporting the underside of said bucket during dumping operation.

HAROLD A. VVAGNER. 

